Monday, 11 August 2014

In
line with its commitment to contributing to effective election security management,
the CLEEN Foundation, with support from the Justice for All (J4A) Program of
DFID, observed the conduct of security officials during the Osun state
gubernatorial election held on Saturday 9 August 2014. As done in previous
elections across the country since 2011, CLEEN Foundation implemented a number
of integrated activities aimed at contributing to public safety and security
during the election in Osun
State. First, it conducted
a pre-election security threat assessment to identify potential security risks,
flashpoints and mitigating factors to those threats. The finding of this
assessment was shared broadly with the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, other security
agencies and civil society groups. Second, it organized a one day training
workshop on election security management for all the Divisional Police Officers
and other senior officials under the Osun state police command. The workshop
was also attended by representatives of the Osun State Resident Electoral
Commissioner and the leadership of other law enforcement agencies. It provided
a forum to share useful ideas on how to effectively police the election and
generally ensure safety throughout the exercise. Third, CLEEN Foundation published
abridged versions of the Police Service Commission’s Guidelines for the Conduct
of Police Officers on Electoral Duty in two national dailies, widely read in
the State. The publications also contained the contact numbers for the call
centre it had set up to collate complaints and incident reports from the public
on the conduct of security officials during the election. Lastly, CLEEN obtained
accreditation from INEC, recruited, trained and deployed observers in all 30
local government areas (LGAs) in Osun state to observe the conduct of security operatives
on election duty. This statement sums up the preliminary findings of that
observation exercise.

Background

The
gubernatorial election conducted in Osun
State on 9 August 2014
was contested by candidates of 20 political parties. However, it was
essentially seen as a race between the candidates of the Peoples’ Democratic
Party (PDP) and the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC). Coming on the heels of the
Ekiti loss by APC to the PDP and the history of fierce electoral contestation
in Osun state, the stakes were very high going into the election with both
parties seeking to establish dominance. A number of likely threats to security
during the election were therefore identified and these included unguarded
statements, inflammatory and inciting comments by political gladiators in the
state, perceived acts of prejudice or bias by security agents in favor or
against any of the contestants, late arrival of election personnel and
inadequate polling materials, inadequate security personnel at polling units
and biased media reportage of events around the election. As was done in the Ekiti
election, various law enforcement agencies deployed significant number of
personnel across the state for the election.

Observations

1.Security
Presence in the State: As has become the pattern,
there was very heavy deployment of security personnel across the state for the
election. They mounted road blocks, conducted stop and search and patrolled
various polling areas. However, their presence did not hinder the electoral process
and there was no major security breach.

2.Deployment
of Security Personnel: Security officials were
deployed in significant numbers to various polling units across the state. A
majority of polling units had three or more security officials. However, there
were isolated reports of late arrival of security officials (Unit 007, Ward
011, Ede north LGA) and crowd control challenges, especially where there were
just one or two security officials (Unit 011, Ward 006 and Unit 007, Ward 011
Ede North; Unit 005, Ward 002, Ife East; Unit 002, Ward 002, Isokan LGA).

3.Conduct
of Security Personnel during the Election: Reports
from across the areas observed indicated that most security officials on
election duty carried out their duties in a very professional and commendable
manner. They were alert, impartial, approachable and coordinated.In places were crowd management became a
challenge, they were able to call for back up from the armed roving patrol
teams who intervened to restore order. However, a few incidents were reported
such as the harassment of observers (Unit 003, Ward 004, Ife East LGA; Unit
001, Ward 009, Irewole LGA), and a minor scuffle between the police and
soldiers at a check point close to Unit 001, Ward 002 in Idi-ore, Ayedire LGA.
The presence of masked security personnel was also noted as a worrisome trend
during the elections.

4.Welfare
of Security Personnel: The provision of adequate
welfare for security officials on election duty remains a pressing challenge.
Most of the officers, especially those deployed from other state commands,
complained of poor accommodation and feeding arrangements. For instance, some
officials deployed to the state on Sunday 3 August 2014 slept in empty primary
school buildings on their own mats and only received a token amount on Friday 8
August 2014. This makes them increasingly vulnerable to compromise and should
be addressed urgently.

5.Deployment
of Election Logistics: Across the state, election
materials and personnel were reported to have arrived on time. INEC’s ad hoc
personnel also demonstrated a better understanding of the process and were able
to manage it effectively. Thus accreditation, voting and counting all went on
schedule, with little or no challenges in most places.

6.Activities
of Party Agents: The unlawful activities of
some party agents and loyalists remain worrisome. For instance, vote buying by
party agents was noted at Unit 018, Ward 011, Ife Central LGA; Unit 001 and 002,
Ward 003, Iwo LGA while impersonation was recorded in some places like Unit
002, Ward 004, Oriade LGA.

Recommendations

1.The
improvements in training and effectively deployment of INEC ad hoc staff and
materials are commendable but much work still needs to be done to improve the quality
of the voters’ register and minimize incidents of voters’ exclusion because of
missing or inaccurate data.

2.Security agencies are urged
to plan ahead of each election and ensure adequate logistics provision for
personnel it will be deploying to cater for their welfare while on electoral
duty and minimize their vulnerability to compromise;

3.The deployment strategy for
security agencies on electoral duty should be revised and improved upon to
ensure adequate coverage of polling units and flashpoint areas;

4.Security agencies should
work towards better coordination and synergy amongst their personnel on
election duty and identifiable tags should be given to those deployed to
facilitate accountability for their conduct;

5.INEC and law enforcement
agencies should take steps to hold political parties and their agents
accountable for their conduct during elections put an end to impunity for
electoral offences by arresting and prosecuting offenders.

We
commend the efforts of INEC, the Police and other security agencies towards
ensuring that the Osun gubernatorial election was peaceful and successful. We also
congratulate the people of Osun
State for their peaceful
conduct during the election and after the release of the results. We thank the
Justice for All (J4A) programme of the UK Government’s Department for
International Development (DfID) for its generous support towards the
observation of this election.

The
CLEEN Foundation is a non-governmental organization established in 1998 and
registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to promote public
safety, security and accessible justice. CLEEN Foundation is a member of
several networks across the world and also has observer status with the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Saturday, 2 August 2014

·Unguarded statements, inflammatory and inciting comments by political
gladiators in the state.

·Any perceived act of prejudice or bias by security agents in favour or
against any of the contestants can resort to breakdown of law and order.

·Late arrival of election personnel and inadequate polling materials

·Inadequate security personnel at polling units

·Biased and inaccurate media reportage of events around the election

Key Mitigating Factors:

·Timely distribution
of election materials and personnel by INEC.

·Enforcement of
code of conduct for political parties and readiness to prosecute electoral
offenders.

·Training of DPOs,
Area commanders and other security agencies on Election Security Management.

·Strategic and
early deployment of adequate security to identified areas of threat in the
state.

·Adequate sensitization of the electorate on the electoral process and
need eschew violence.

Introduction

On 9 August 2014, Osun
state will head to the polls to elect its governor in what promises to be a
keenly contested election. This will be the 10th staggered election since 2011,
and the possibly the last one before the 2015 general elections. It will therefore
likely evidence the culmination of lessons learnt from previous elections, and
gauge preparedness for the forthcoming general election. The stakes are also
very high in Osun State. Though candidates of 20 political parties
have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
contest for the election, it is essentially seen as a race between the Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Coming
on the heels of the Ekiti loss by APC to the PDP, the Osun election will be a
battle for dominance and supremacy. The APC will be seeking to halt its reversal of fortunes and bolster the
confidence of its members nationwide that it is still a force to reckon with,
while the PDP will want to assert that its victory in Ekiti was not a fluke but
indicative of the wide acceptance of the party. INEC will also be
seeking to consolidate on its successful outing during the Ekiti State
election.As always, significant
attention will be on security agencies especially with the massive deployment
recorded in Ekiti, its attendant challenges, and the likelihood of a repeat in
Osun. This edition of CLEEN Foundation’s Election
Security Brief (ESB) examines the security threats and mitigating
factors as well as recommends measures to prevent electoral violence in the Osun
election.

Brief
History of Osun State

Osun
State was created from the old Oyo State
on August 27, 1991 with Osogbo as its capital. The state is named after the
symbolic Osun river that flows
through it. The river serves both spiritual and tourist purposes in the state.
Yoruba tradition has it that it was in Osun (Ile-Ife) that Olodumare (God) started the creation of the world. Osun is therefore
the ancestral home of the Yoruba nation. With a population estimate of 3,423,535
and total land mass of approximately
14,875 sq km, Osun is an
agrarian state, located within the tropical rain forest with abundance of
resources. It shares boundary with Ogun
State to the south, Kwara State
to the north, Oyo State to the west and Ekiti and Ondo State
to the east. The state has 3 senatorial districts, 9 federal
constituencies, 26 State House of Assembly Seats and 30 Local Government Areas.
Each Senatorial District has 10 local
government areas.

Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisha was the first
Military Administrator of the State and he governed from August 1991 to January
1992 when he handed over to an elected governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke who
ruled from 1992 to November 1993. The civilian rule in the state was terminated
when Col Anthony Udofia, (Dec 1993 -August 1996), Col Anthony Obi (Aug 1996-Aug
1998) and Col Theophilus Bamgboye (Aug 1998- May 1999) served as Military Administrators
respectively.

Chief Bisi Akande was elected as the
Governor of the state in 1999 and he served till 2003. Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola took over from Chief Akande and governed from 29th May 2003- 29th May
2007 for the first term. Prince Oyinlola had spent three and a half years out
of his second term until he was removed in a landmark judgment on 26th November
2010, by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ibadan which nullified his election
and Engr. Rauf Aregbesola was declared the validly elected Governor in the 14th
April, 2007 Gubernatorial Election. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is the present
Governor of the State and seeking re-election.

Parties
and Candidates in the Gubernatorial Election

Twenty (20) political parties have been
cleared to contest and field candidates for the 9 August 2014 gubernatorial
election and they include the following:

S/N

Political Party

Candidate

1.

Action Alliance (AA)

Mr Adeoye Adeyinka

2.

All Progressive Congress(APC)

Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola

3.

Accord Party (AP)

Mr Niyi
Owolade

4.

African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Comrade Ojo Gbenga Gabriel

5.

African Peoples’ Alliance,
(APA)

Mr
Agboola Azeez Obasanjo

6.

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

Mr Akintunde Adebimpe Adetunji

7.

Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, (ACPN)

Mr Olufemi
Adeleke Hammed

8.

Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Senator Sunday Olawale Fajinmi

9.

Citizens Popular Party (CPP)

Alhaji Rafiu Shehu Anifowose

10.

Labour Party (LP)

Mr Akinbade Fatai Akinade

11.

Mega Progressive Peoples Party, (MPPP)

Chief Babatunde Adetoro

12.

National Conscience Party, (NCP)

Mr Afolayanka
Olanrewaju Jimoh

13.

New Nigeria
Peoples Party (NNPP)

Prince Adefare Segun Adegoke

14.

Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM)

Mr. Oludare Timothy Akinola

15.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Senator Iyiola Omisore

16.

Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA)

Mr Ganiyu Abiodun Lawal

17.

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Mr Akinwusi Olusegun

18.

United Democratic Party, (UDP)

Mr Funso Toyin Bunmi

19.

Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)

Mr Adeoti Ibrahim Abiodun

20.

United Progressive Party (UPP)

Prince Victor Olusegun Adeniyi

Regardless of the
numbers of parties and candidates, the real contest is expected to be between
APC and PDP.

APC candidate: Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola

Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, born 25 May 1957, fondly refered to as Ogbeni
is a Nigerian politician who ran for governor of Osun State
in the 2007 elections. Although the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate
Olagunsoye Oyinlola was declared the winner,Aregbesola appealed the
decision and on 26 November 2010 was declared the winner. Aregbesola was Lagos
State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure between 1999 and 2007 before
contesting for the Osun state governorship seat in April 2007 on the Action
Congress platform. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was on Saturday 12th of April 2014
endorsed as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the
state’s gubernatorial election slated for the 9th of August 2014 were he will
be seeking to be re-elected.

PDP Candidate: Senator Iyiola Omisore

Senator Iyiola Ajani
Omisore is also an Engineer and a frontline Nigerian Politician. Fondly

referred to as ‘Otunba’ or ‘Apesin’ by his friends, professional colleagues and
political associates, he served as the second elected Deputy Governor of Osun State, Nigeria
from 1999 to December 2002 (when he was impeached) on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.
He was elected a member of the Nigerian Senate representing Osun East district
from 2003 -2011 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is
the top contender for the Osun state government house in the 9 August 2014
election.

Synthesis of Security Threats

The following are the key threats to
security in the Osun
State gubernatorial election:

·Unguarded
statements, hate speeches, inflammatory and inciting comments by political
gladiators in the state

·Any
perceived act of prejudice or bias by security agents in favour or against any
of the contestants can resort to breakdown of law and order. Unwarranted
clampdown on opposition leaders as alleged in Ekiti State
and overzealousness on the part of the security agents can be
counter-productive as the people may resist any act of molestation or
harassment.

·Arrival
of election personnel and inadequate polling materials: INEC got this right in
Ekiti and this significantly contributed to the overall success of the
election. A repeat performance will be needed in Osun.

·Inability
of some voters to collect their Permanent Voters Cards or to find their names
on the Voters Register may cause some challenges at polling units.

·A
number of clashes have been reported to have taken place among the supporters
of APC and PDP in some parts of the state. There were allegations of the
supporters of these parties trying to outdo each other. These have led to
injuries and destruction of properties.

·Vote-buying
as is currently being alleged is an incentive to violence and a great risk
factor.

·Inadequate
security personnel at polling units may lead to disorderliness which some
undesirable elements may want to take advantage of to perpetrate electoral
fraud and violence.

·Bias
and inaccurate media reportage can be a serious risk factor; sensational news
and integrity deficit reportage will harm the electoral process and can cause
mayhem.

Potential
Flash Points

The likely hotbed of political
crisis in Osun State that need to be kept under close security observation
before, during and after the August 9 polls include:Ile-Ife the hometown of the PDP candidate,
Ilesa the hometown of the APC candidate, Ila-Orangun the hometown of APC
chieftain and former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande. Other areas
include Iwo, Ikirun, Osogbo andEde the
hometown of another APC chieftain and former governor of Osun State,
Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, where thePDP
candidate’s running mate, Hon. Adejare Bello also hails from.

Mitigation
factors

The following are mitigation factors that
may dilute the potency of the threats analysed above:

·As with
the Ekiti gubernatorial election of June 21, INEC must consolidate on its
logistic success and even improve on it. There must be no delay in commencement
of election while adequate sensitive and non-sensitive election materials must
be provided.

·Confidence of the public must be built on the
neutrality and professionalism of security agencies. Importantly, the Police
and other security agencies must ensure 100% neutrality during the elections.

·INEC
will do well to sustain its current sensitisation programme in the mass media
and ensure that all eligible voters who come forward to collect their PVCs are
given.

·National
Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as the government regulatory agency for
broadcast media in Nigeria
and the Nigerian Press Council must work together to enforce broadcasting codes
and code of conduct for journalists. They must ensure equal media access for
all political parties and candidates and censor any breach of the journalist
code of ethics.

·INEC
and ICCES must ensure timely and adequate deployment of security officers to
all of the Polling Units in Osun
State in order to bolster
people’s confidence to go out and vote as well as promote law and order.

·Lastly, INEC and security agencies must send a
clear and strong signal that they will not condone electoral malfeasance and
that offenders will be duly prosecuted.

Conclusion
and Recommendations

There is no gainsaying the fact that the
stakes are high for both the PDP and APC in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial
election in Osun State. Be that as it may, all the actors
and stakeholders must work together to ensure a successful election. Each must
discharge its duties with high sense of integrity. INEC alone cannot guarantee
credible or violence free election neither can the security agencies alone do
it. All hands must be on deck and all stakeholders must work robustly and collaboratively
together to take Nigeria’s
electoral democracy to the next level. The following key recommendations are
therefore put forward:

·INEC
should create a level playing field for all the 20 political parties and their
flag bearers in the Osun 2014 gubernatorial election. No political party should
have its name and logo missing on the ballot paper and INEC must follow through
on all the promises it made to the stakeholders ahead of the poll. There should
be adequate supply of election materials and poll officials must be adequately
trained and made to arrive their duty post on time.

·Security
agencies must also treat all the contesting parties and candidates equally.
They must all be offered protection and their supporters evenly treated. Police
and their sister security organisations should not be used by the federal
government to achieve a pre-determined political end. The law enforcement
agents should be at their professional best before, during and after the
forthcoming poll. Police authorities must ensure adequate welfare of its
officers and men being deployed for election duty. Their allowances should be
paid upfront so that they are not made susceptible to political influence.

·Political
parties and their candidates must learn to obey electoral rules and procedures.
They must desist from using thugs to settle political scores and must be civil
and cultured in their inter-personal and inter-party relations. They should
embrace peace and play issue-based politics rather than using uncouth language
and engage in character assassination. They should imbibe the spirit of
sportsmanship and realise that even if the outcome of the poll does not favour
them now, it may in future elections. More so, they have opportunity of seeking
legal redress at the election petition tribunal should they be aggrieved.

·Electorates
must be educated to understand that mandate protection is not tantamount to
bloodletting. They must resist to be induced to act in a way that is inimical
to national or state interest.

·Nigerian
media, especially those operating in Osun
State must engage in
responsible, non-sensational and issue based reporting otherwise they risk
sanction from their regulatory bodies as well as the law enforcement agents.

·The
judiciary as the last hope of the common man musttreat each matter brought before it on its
merits and not on technicalities. They must not only give judgment but should
dispense justice. This should be done in a timely manner as justice delayed is justice
denied. This will build people’s confidence in the judicial system and prevent
the aggrieved from resorting to self-help.